About DevTopics

DevTopics is a high-level and sometimes satirical look at software development and computer technology. DevTopics is written by Tim Toady, the founder of Browserling Inc, a cross-browser testing company. When we occasionally dive into the details, it's usually about C# and .NET programming. (More)

Google has released a simple programming language called, appropriately enough, “Simple.” The goal of Simple is to provide an easy-to-learn-and-use language for the mobile Android platform. As a BASIC dialect, Simple is particularly well suited for non-professional programmers, but can also be used by experienced developers. Simple enables programmers to quickly write Android applications by using components included with its runtime system.

Similar to its 1990’s relative BASIC developed by Microsoft, Simple programs consist of form definitions (which contain components) and source code (which contains the program logic). The interaction between the components and the program logic happens through events triggered by the components. The program logic consists of event handlers, which contain code reacting to the events.

Simple is available for Windows, Linux and Mac. The language is open-source and includes sample applications and a tutorial.

Google warns that the Simple project is still a work in progress and likely contains bugs and missing features. Given that the language is open source, Google encourages developers themselves to fill any gaps in functionality.

Simple is based on BASIC, a programming language created in the 1960s that saw widespread use in the 1980s as the personal computer market developed. BASIC became even more popular in the 1990s when Microsoft released Visual Basic.

In what life did Micro$haft develop basic? It was developed in in 1964 at Dartmouth collage. Microsoft made it’s version popular in the 1980’s with GW Basic, which came on every PC clone. I would have the thought the likes of Sinclair, Atari, The BBC micro and others would have something to say about making the Basic language popular before Microsoft “developed it”.

I saw your post so much. This is really informative. I would have the thought the likes of Sinclair, Atari, The BBC micro and others would have something to say about making the Basic language popular before Microsoft “developed it”.Thanks for sharing.